Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Champagne Blanc de Blanc 2017

Perrier-Jouët makes this prestige cuvée in the Champagne region only in the strongest vintages, and the 2017 Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs is drawn entirely from Chardonnay. As with all Champagne, a still base wine undergoes a second fermentation in bottle, after which extended maturation on the lees allows yeast autolysis to build the biscuit and nutty layers that sit beneath the fruit. The single-variety approach keeps the wine precise and linear, and the long cellar time gives it depth without weight. The dosage sits within the Brut range, so the finish reads dry and taut rather than sweet.

The colour is a deep gold with a fine, persistent bead. The nose opens on lime blossom and white flowers, moving towards white peach and lemon, with hazelnut and a soft biscuit tone from the lees. The palate is silky and taut at once, carrying a saline, chalky freshness through a long finish. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees in a white wine glass rather than a narrow flute, so the aromatics have room. It suits oysters, scallops and fine seafood, or a plate of hard nutty cheese.